Boiler-cleaner.



ND. 656,953. Patented Aug. 28, I900.

'P. A. DOUGHTY.

BOILER CLEANER.

(Application filed June 18, 1900.)

(No Model.)

PARKER ALLEN DOUGHTY, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

BOILER-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,953, dated August28, 1900.

Application filed June 13, 1900. Serial No. 20,167. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PARKER ALLEN DOUGHTY, residing at Omaha, in thecounty of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain usefulImprovements in Mechanical Boiler-Cleaners; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and novel improvement in mechanicalboiler-cleaners, and relates more particularly to that class ofboiler-cleaners in which the scum is gathered from the surface of thewater in the boiler and conveyed to a precipitator, from which the waterwithout being cooled is returned to the boiler freed of impurities.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in Figure 1 a broken detachedview of a boiler with parts removed provided with my improved mechanicalboiler-cleaner,showing the preeipitator partly in sectional view, whileFig. 2 shows a detail disclosing the ar rangement of the boiler-cleanerproper.

As has been set forth, my invention relates to that class of mechanicalboiler-cleaners which are set at the waterline within the boiler tofirst collect and then remove the scum floating upon the Water. As thewaterline is continually changing, the collector is arranged to removethe scum at any waterline, as will be described more fully herein-.

after.

In fulfilling the aim of my invention I construct an open-ended housingof decreasing capacity toward the outlet, which housing is provided withadjustable divergent wings and an automatically-operated gate topartially open and close the intake-opening of the housing.

In an ordinary boiler when the water is raised to the boiling-point theact of evolution creates a seething or agitation of the water, duringwhich process certain substances in suspension in the water-such as mud,lime, sludge, magnesia, and the likeare'carried to the surface in theform of a scum. If this foreign matter is not removed, it willprecipitate in the boiler in the form of a scale when the water ispermitted to cool, thereby forming a sheathing or covering of foreignmatter between the water and the boiler, and as this scale is a poorheat-conductor it consequently requires a greater amount of coal to heatthe water than where the boiler is free of scales. In order to removethese impurities, which during the evolution of the water, are upon thesurface, I construct within and near the end of the boiler farthermostfrom the hottest part of the furnace a hood 4, as is shown in thedrawings, which hood is provided in front with an opening and which isapproximately in the shape of a pyramid, at the smallest end of which Iprovide an elbow b, which threads upon a supporting-pipe 10, fixedwithin the boiler, as is shown in Fig. 1. This pipe 10, which offers asupport for my boiler-cleaner, is provided with the valve 11, from whichcontinues a pipe 12, emptyinginto the precipitator 14, as is shown. Thishood, while approximately in the shape of a pyramid, is so constructedthat the highest point of the exit-opening receiving the elbow b islower than the lowest point of the intakeopening of the hood. Referringto Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the intake-opening is above the linea and the exit-opening below the same. This hood, it will further benoticed, is of decreasing capacity from its opening toward its emptyingend.

Removably secured to the upper portion of the hood is a rod 2, pivotedto the ears 9 of the hood, which rod is curved and at one end isprovided with a float 3 and at the other with a gate 7, having a loop 8,by means of which the gate issecured to the rod 2. The float and rod areso adjusted that the float is above the lowest point of the hoodsintakeopening, as is shown in Fig. 1. Normally this float rests upon thetop of the hood at, in which position the gate 7 is open, so that theintake-opening is unobstructed. This float is further so arranged thatwhen the water is at its normal and usual level the gate 7 is opened.

Diverging from the hoodand the two op posite forward edges thereof arethe wings 5 and 6, each wing being provided with an inwardly-extendingflange (L, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Now my hood is so positionedthat the opening will always be within the scum-line, so that the scummay be carried off with the least amount of hot water. In thisconnection it will be remembered that it was stated that this skimmerwas placed within the boiler at the point farthermost from the hottestpart of the furnace. This'was done for the reason that where the heat isgreatest the water rises upward the quickest, so that a current iscreated within the boiler, so that the surface of the water has anatural tendency to flow from the forward and hottest point of theboiler to the rear and coolest point thereof, and as the scum-line comesat a point between the upper and lower edges of the wings, andconsequently the hood-opening, there is a gradual tendency of the scumto follow the water and be carried into the hood, while the clear waterof course passes around the hood, creating a continuous surface-current,emptying in to the hood, and consequently carrying with it theaccumulated scum which has collected between the wings and, within thehood. It is understood that the wings 5 and 6, as well as thehood-opening, are always to extend above and below the water-line.

Tangentially receiving the lower end of the pipe 12 is a precipitator ora settlingchamber, positioned adjacent to the boiler, and this chamberor precipitator below is provided with a valved exit-pipe 16, so thatthe collected impurities may be drawn from this precipitator. Positionedwithin the precipitator 14: is a funnel 15, the upper end of which issecured to a pipe 17, entering at a suitable point into the boiler 1,and this pipe 17 is provided with a valve 18. In the drawings, the flueshave been represented by the referenceletter P.

Now the operation of my device as far as described is as follows: Thesteam-pressure in the boiler and hot water on the'surface or scum-lineforces the scum containing the mud,sludge,and other foreign matterthrough the scum-receiver and out through the outletpipe 12 into theprecipitator 14, where, striking the circular precipitator tangentially,the water is whirled around, so that the impurities are thrownperipherally outward, so that the clearest water is centrally within theprecipitator, where after undergoing the purifyin g process,whichslightly cools it, it is then returned to the boiler, to the coolestpart thereof, which process constitutes a perfect system of circulation.A check-cock 18 is placed in the returnpipe, by the use of which thecirculation through the precipitator or settlingchamber is regulated.Now should the water rise within the boiler, raising the scum-line inthe boiler slightly above the center of the scum-receiver, the float 3is engaged by the rising water,.and in carrying itnpward the gate 7 isactuated to close tightly over the lower half of the mouth orintake-opening of the scum-receiver, shutting out the water below thescum-line that would otherwise flow into the outlet-opening, filling thepipes and precipitator with water instead of scum, thus retarding butnot negativing the work of the cleaner. The stratum of water containingthis scum will thence continue to pass over the gate into thescum-receiver, and as the scum-line recedes the float lowers with thereceding water, when the gate again opens and the scum flows in asbefore. From this it will be seen that my invention comprises the novelfeatures of a floating skimmer, automatically adjusting itself to theever-changing scum-line in the boiler.

It will be noticed that the construction is exceedingly simple and thatafter the cleaner has once been placed in position the operation iscontinuous, as no special wear or strain comes upon the one working partlocated at the union of the operating-bar with the hood.

I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction ofinstrumentalities, as my invention may be changed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by United States Letters Patent, is

In a mechanical boiler-cleaner, the combination with a housing ofdecreasing capacity toward its exit end, the lowest point of said PARKERALLEN DOUGIITY.

In presence ot" GEO. W. SUEs, ETHEL SMITH.

